New Maharashtra government likely to take charge on October 30

The BJP legislature party meeting to elect the new chief minister has also been postponed by a day. Due to the non-availability of Union home minister Rajnath Singh on Monday, it will now take place on October 28.

Highly-placed sources in the BJP said the swearing-in ceremony would be like a grand celebration of the BJP’s unprecedented victory in the Maharashtra Assembly polls. Wankhede Stadium has been booked for October 30 for this ceremony, that is also likely to be attended by the chief ministers of all NDA-ruled states.

“Mr Modi coming to Maharashtra has another reason too. He wants to send a message to senior leaders of the party who were opposing Mr Fadnavis’ name,” sources said.

Nitin Gadkari’s supporters have openly demanded that he be made chief minister. They had even gathered at Mr Gadkari’s Nagpur residence to convince him to take up the top post. The action of MLAs was seen as a show of strength by Mr Gadkari, who is said to have aspirations to become CM.

Read: Ex-Sena MP not for BJP tie-up in Maharashtra

“Union home minister Rajnath Singh, who was appointed as a central observer for electing the chief minister, along with senior leader J.P. Nadda, is not available on Monday. As a result, the legislature party meeting has been postponed for a day,” a source said.

He added that all party MLAs, MLCs and MPs had been asked to attend the meeting. They have been told to be in Mumbai by Monday evening. Vinod Tawde, senior BJP leader, also later confirmed the legislature party meeting will be held on Tuesday.

There is, however, still no clarity on the Shiv Sena being a part of the BJP government. Mr Tawde said while the BJP was keen to have the Sena on board, it was not willing to accept its conditions.

“The formation of any alliance should be from the heart. We want the Sena to be with us, but they should come forward without conditions,” Mr Tawde said.